If there's one thing that's united and simultaneously divided literally the entire world in recent years, it's the pandemic. Whoever you are, wherever you live, it's a near certainty that the pandemic has affected your life in innumerable ways.
Nobody is immune to lockdown fatigue, not even the rich and famous. Julia Roberts revealed that she found strength in George Clooney during the pandemic.
The duo has starred together in Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, and Money Monster. They're two of Hollywood's biggest stars of the '90s and aughts and consider each other to be close friends.
The film was shot between November of 2021 and February of 2022 in Australia. Due to strict Aussie quarantine rules, those working on the film were unable to see loved ones during this time.
Because of the quarantine regulations, it was a serious hassle for Roberts to see her husband Danny or their three kids
"When Danny and the kids did come visit, that meant they had to fly into Sydney and quarantine for two weeks by themselves before she could see them," Clooney said.
Clooney and his wife Amal brought their five-year-old twins to the shoot. Roberts, who was alone aside from the odd visitor, opted to quarantine with the Clooneys. The actors both discussed the experience in an interview with the New York Times.
"When we first got to Australia and we were all quarantining, you kind of go a little bit cuckoo," Roberts admitted. "I remember right around Day 11, I was like, 'Who am I? Where am I? What is this room that I never leave?' It's a funny thing. I hadn't really anticipated all that."
"The Clooneys saved me from complete loneliness and despair," she continued. "We were in a bubble, and it's the longest I've ever been away from my family. I don't think I've spent that much time by myself since I was 25."
Clooney said they stayed on Hamilton Island in Queensland, which meant they were surrounded by wild birds.
"I would come out in the early mornings and be like, 'Caa-caa,' and Julia would come out and be like, 'Caa-caa.' And then we'd bring her down a cup of coffee. She was Aunt Juju to my kids," Clooney said.
Clooney and Roberts are frequent collaborators, and Roberts said it made sense for them to do a romantic comedy together. "We have a friendship that people are aware of, and we're going into it as this divorced couple," she said. "Half of America probably thinks we are divorced, so we have that going for us."
"[There's] one kiss," said Roberts. "And we did [the takes] for, like, six months."
"I told my wife, 'It took 80 takes,'" Clooney chimed in. "She was like, 'What the hell?'"
It's a little too early for pre-release reviews, but anyone who's a fan of the Julia Roberts-George Clooney chemistry, or anyone who wants to see some gorgeous Aussie scenery, might want to check it out.
